News Release 9th December 2012
UPHILL CROSS COUNTRY AT ST ALBANS
Back to School on Friday
Fairlands Valley Spartans put out two strong women’s teams in Sunday’s cross country league race in Verulamium Park, St. Albans. Over a tough and hilly 5.7 miles with some liquid mud patches RHIANNON GRIFFIN led the “A” team in 128th position (overall out of all the men and women) with a time of 41 minutes 57 seconds; TRACY PEZ was 165th in 44:40; JULIE SIMMONDS 174th in 45:20; MADDIE PRITCHARD 217th in 48:05; and KAREN ELLIS 231st in 48:55.
ANN TRYSSESOONE was first for the “B” team and not far behind, 236th in 49:18; HANNAH DAVIDSON 252nd in 50:43; LISA GRAY 255th in 50:59; TRICIA HOPPER 260th in 51:26 and KAREN LIDDLE 264th in 51:40. The Spartan women even had a bonus of two other runners — SHARON CROWLEY 280th in 53:45 and LORRAINE THOMAS 290th in 56:15.
For the men’s team LEE REYNOLDS was a phenomenal third in 34 minutes exactly; ADRIAN DONNELLY was 97th in 40:22; STEVE MAYFIELD 138th in 42:28; JIM BROWN 197th in 46:39; MARK CHEADLE 212th in 47:36; BARRY KING 218th in 48:09; ANDY JAY 229th in 48:50 and PAUL HOLGATE 277th in 53:06. In addition TONY OSBORNE was 293rd in 57:44 and NICK WITCOMBE 298th in 59:40.
Women’s Results (five per team):
| Overall Position | Name | Time |
| 128 | RHIANNON GRIFFIN | 41:57 |
| 165 | TRACY PEZ | 44:40** |
| 174 | JULIE SIMMONDS | 45:20 |
| 217 | MADDIE PRITCHARD | 48:05 |
| 231 | KAREN ELLIS | 48:55 |
| 236 | ANN TRYSSESOONE | 49:18 |
| 252 | HANNAH DAVIDSON | 50:43** |
| 255 | LISA GRAY | 50:59 |
| 260 | TRICIA HOPPER | 51:26 |
| 264 | KAREN LIDDLE | 51:40 |
| 280 | SHARON CROWLEY | 53:45 |
| 290 | LORRAINE THOMAS | 56:15 |
Men’s Results (eight per team):
| Overall Position | Name | Time |
| 3 | LEE REYNOLDS | 34:00** |
| 97 | ADRIAN DONNELLY | 40:22 |
| 138 | STEVE MAYFIELD | 42:28 |
| 197 | JIM BROWN | 46:39 |
| 212 | MARK CHEADLE | 47:36 |
| 218 | BARRY KING | 48:09 |
| 229 | ANDY JAY | 48:50 |
| 277 | PAUL HOLGATE | 53:06 |
| 293 | TONY OSBORNE | 57:44 |
| 298 | NICK WITCOMBE | 59:40 |
Off Road Stratford
On Saturday CAROL PAUL ran the Winter Board Meadow Off Road Marathon from Stratford upon Avon. The marathon consisted of three different loops around Stratford upon Avon. It was a cold day with the sun hardly making an appearance. Carol’s time was 5 hours 38 minutes 49 seconds.
Getting Ready For Disney
Husband & wife, PAUL MARSHALL and VIVIENNE HONEY participated in a very windy & undulating Bedford Half marathon on Sunday morning.
With times of 1 hour 53 minutes 7 seconds and 2:17:41 respectively, this race signals the wind down to the Disney Marathon in Florida in January where Paul is doing both the half marathon & the full marathon during the weekend.
Lisbon Marathon
ROGER BIGGS was in Lisbon, the Capital of Portugal, on Sunday for a marathon that took in the city and riverside areas. Over an undulating course, with a 4 kilometres climb from 36 kilometres (22 miles), Roger ran a steady race to finish in 4:05:22.
Club Christmas Party — We Are Going Back To School! — Friday 14th December
The Spartans’ Christmas Party is this Friday. They are going back to school. Relive the best days of your life with fun and games along with dancing to a variety of popular music. Fancy dress is encouraged (maybe your old school uniform still fits) but you are free to attend in non-uniform. The evening will also include the Virgin London Marathon club draw which is due to take place at around 7.30pm. The event is taking place at Mossbury Primary School , Webb Rise , Stevenage SG1 5PA, doors open at 7pm (Don’t be late for registration).
Tickets are now available (from Tracy Pez, Jayne Pinner, Katrina Doyle or Nick Witcombe) and cost £5. This includes a buffet but can you please bring your own drinks. Further details will be posted to the Forum on www.fvspartans.org.uk.
The Spartans New Committee
At the recent AGM the following people were elected onto the committee:
Chair — Bev Harlow, General Secretary — Viv Honey (07702 846304), Committee Secretary — Jo Cahill, Treasurer — Mark Cheadle, Head Coach — Chris Leigh, Mens Team Captain — Nick Witcombe, Ladies Team Captain — Tracy Pez together with Graham Blackburn, Jim Brown (Press Officer 0793 968 7509), Paul Holgate, James Day, Simon Harris, John Harlow, Lisa Jerrom, Tessa Stephenson, Maria Rushton, Phil Rushton, Barry King, Christine Sharman and Jayne Pinner.
Last year’s Committee, particularly Chair — Graham Blackburn and Secretary — Steph Mayfield, were thanked for all their work during the last year
Baggage for VLM.
The London Marathon is not until Sunday 21st April but Fairlands Valley Spartans are already signing up volunteers for help in Pall Mall. The club have helped make the event a success for many years. Places for the baggage will be allocated after the draw for running place at the Spartans Christmas Party which is on Friday, 14th December 2012.
Coming Events
Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:
- Buntingford Ten on Sunday 30th December.
- Handicap 5K on Thursday evening 3rd January 2013.
- County Cross Country Championships at Haileybury College on Sunday 6th January.
- Cross Country League on Therfield Heath, Royston on Sunday 13th January.
- Cross Country League in Watford on Sunday 17th February.
- Virgin London Marathon on 21st April.